Ignorance is bliss except

"Commissioner Randy Leonard opposed the initial plan and still does, considering how little use City Hall bathrooms have gotten. He argues that City Hall is too far from the transient mecca of Old Town to be useful. So, getting into a bit of a pissing match, Leonard secured $250,000 to design, build and install two permanent stand-alone public restrooms downtown."

The above quote is from the Willamette Week essentially an article about the uselessness of the open door policy at city hall for the bathrooms, i.e., giving access to the homeless whose supporters and the like have touted access as something needed.

Apparently, not only was it not needed - it was not even fulfill a 'build and they will come' scenario. But, this is not about the bathrooms. it is the sub-text.

The point is that the media and city commissioners, like Mr. Leonard, are truly ignorant about Old Town.

Mr. Leonard calls Old Town the "transient mecca." Well, it has not been for the 4 years I have lived in Old Town. Of course, with his efforts, it is fast becoming that way, e.g., Resource Access Center.

If Old Town is a mecca - it is a drug mecca. But who cares about that. The $250,000 that Mr. Leonard wants to spend on the design for public toilets would be better used to stop the drug trafficking in Old Town.

I virtually split my time in Portland in Old Town and downtown. On a daily basis I see more transients downtown than in Old Town.

I am asked for money by transients downtown nearly every day - I can only remember one time in Old Town.

Finally, the Week implies that the streets smell of urine. Where did that come from? Granted it has become a very dirty place. But nowhere I walk - do the streets or sidewalks smell like urine.

Ignorance of Old Town as it is today has cost Old Town dearly. Well meaning doesn't cut it.